Mike's musings

Bishops and primary schools

Now, I'm sure that there are lots of bishops who visit primary schools, but that's not what I'm talking about. It was Jo's first school play today - not a Nativity, which is next week - but a drama about a man with a family which he was neglecting, but with which he was reconciled following help from the school, the church and the community. Deep stuff. But with 15 different songs for them to dance to, which was fun.

And now to the important bit: Jo was one of the "vicarettes", who supported the priest character in the play (yes, it's a CofE school). They danced around, and their costumes included sparkly purple bibs with clerical collars. It's the purple that I'm particularly happy with. On the girls. Go primary school!

Labels: school

London, school, and design

Starck - interesting guy, and amazing designer. There was a good programme on the TV this evening - Design School or similar - about a bunch of young designers battling for the chance to work with him. Very, very interesting. We caught it by accident, but we'll try to watch it again next week.

I was in London today, and had a very good meeting with the rest of the team. I'm really, really enjoying the chance to think architecturally and to apply some of the skills and experience I've gained over the past 15 years of work. There's dull stuff, too, but also the opportunity to think and debate with clever colleagues. Good stuff.

And it was Jo's first day at school for an entire day. She loved it, and particularly having a school dinner. I'm very keen that she should do this: it will encourage her to eat a wider range of food, it will allow more pupils to eat better food, and I think it builds better social cohesion. So I'm very pleased that she enjoyed it.

Labels: jojo, school, television, work

Words - and computer that talks

(backposting) There really was a party today, and after taking the girls to the 1000, Jo got to go to it. It was a family service, and there was lots of standing at the front, singing and doing actions. Much fun, particularly for the girls, but I enjoyed it, too.

Miri and I had fun, listening to music, watching a DVD, cuddling, having lunch, while Moo and Jo went to the party. Afterwards, I introduced Jo to festival, an application for Linux/Unix that talks - well, which can be made to speak. Jo had said, a few days before, that of course computers can't talk, and I enjoyed getting it to say things to her. She's also played with lots of words and letters, and I got the my machine to say the words that she was reading. This was very amusing, apparently, and kept people amused for quite a while.

I cooked a lovely roast shoulder of lamb, which we had as a family supper. Well, I say _we_, but the girls had very little of the roast potato or carrot or gravy - or even lamb, in Miri's case. Oh well, we tried.

Labels: church, food, school

School governor?

Moo's thinking about this - there's a position free for a parent-governor at Jojo's school. I think she'd be very good at it, and have lots to offer, but it turns out there's an even bigger incentive: the chair of governors has her own yarn shop. Hmmm. We should be suspicious.

Labels: school

More school

How tired is Jojo? Very, very tired. And she's only doing afternoons at the moment. But she's enjoying it very much, and getting good at "b" words. That's words with the letter b featuring in them, and the reading thereof.

Not feeling great today, and although I drove all the way to Witham station, I got out of the car, walked 20 metres, turned back and drove home (and got the parking fee back). Headache, gout, feeling not good. But got lots of work done, which is something.

Labels: home, jojo, school

School

(backposting) Tomorrow is Jojo's first day at school, and to say that she's excited would be something of an understatement. I went to the office today, but as I left home around 0640, I got there nice and early and was easily able to get back home in time to do the girls' bed- and bath-time.

Labels: school

A very good day

Lots of things I can't really blog about today, including some pastorally sensitive ministry-related activity, but it's been a really good day. We also had our first parents' evening for Jo's school, which was exciting at one level, and administrivial (is that a real word) on another.

Had a good walk, too, and Moo's got a new phone, the sim of which will be activated over night. She has a day at home tomorrow, so she's quite excited.

Labels: ministry, phone, school